With preservation of radiation therapy: the cancer center in St. Petersburg can be redesigned for the treatment of patients with COVID-19

At the end of May 2020, in case of deterioration of the epidemiological situation of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Scientific Research Center for Oncology named after N. N. Petrova »The Ministry of Health of Russia can be redesigned for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. This was reported to RT by the press service of the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov. The RT Governor’s press service assured that if the center is reprofiled, all patients will receive the necessary treatment.

"At present, the NRC Oncology named after N.N. Petrova is operating normally. The center continues to perform surgical, radiation, chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer patients in the hospital and to provide outpatient consultations for patients with malignant neoplasms and suspected them. In the event of a worsening of the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg, the possibility of re-profiling the Scientific and Research Center for Oncology named after N.N. Petrova at the end of May 2020. No formal decision has been made. So far, only a list of federal medical institutions has been defined that is planned to be redesigned to provide medical care to patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, ”the press service told RT.

Previously, patients expressed concern that they might be discharged from the hospital and left without treatment. As the patient of the center Lara Sysoeva told RT, she came to St. Petersburg from Karelia. A woman has been treated at the center for three months now.

“If the center is redesigned, then all treatment will be in vain, because it cannot be interrupted. For all cancer patients, this will essentially be a death sentence, because we will be sent to the regions where we came from. And there the treatment is not so successful, there are not enough medications. NMIC them. Petrova is the only clinic that treats almost all cancer patients, but does not refuse them. They may deprive us of our last hope, ”says Sysoeva.

According to her, cancer patients from Ufa, Vladivostok, Krasnodar, Kaliningrad, Dagestan, among whom there are many children and elderly, are being treated at the center. According to the woman, if the center is reprofiled, patients will be sent back to the regions, and oncology dispensaries across the country have already entered quarantine and it will not be easy to get there.

“We understand why they want to redesign the center: there are all the conditions here - there is an oxygen supply and highly qualified specialists to each chamber. Our doctors can not influence the situation, but they are very worried about their patients. Now they say that the Petrov center will treat cancer patients with coronavirus. And just the cancer patients will be driven out into the street. Do we need to get coronavirus in order to be saved? ”Sysoeva wonders.

According to her, the cancer center patients created an initiative group to draw public attention to the situation. Sysoeva created a petition on Change.org, which at the time of publication of the material was signed by more than 96 thousand people.

“Every month, the center receives treatment for more than 1200 people, including the elderly and children. In May 2020, they, as patients, want to throw us out onto the street without continuing treatment. It is impossible to receive appropriate high-tech treatment in the regions, ”the petition description says.

As the governor’s press service emphasized, in case of a difficult situation with the spread of coronavirus infection, the possibility of reprofiling the main building of the Oncology Research Center is considered. But even in this case, radiation treatment of patients in a separate building in the village of Pesochny will continue.

Oncological patients living in St. Petersburg, if it is impossible to postpone treatment until the epidemiological situation normalizes, will be referred to other oncological institutions - the St. Petersburg Cancer Center in Pesochny and City Oncology Dispensaries.

“In connection with the reprofiling of the Mariinsky hospital, the facility has suspended robotic operations for cancer patients. If it is impossible to postpone surgical treatment (such a decision is made by the attending physician), patients will be redirected to receive treatment at City Hospital No. 40, ”the press service concluded.